VANCOUVER — As a new documentary makes clear, there is far more to Harry Belafonte’s legacy than introducing North Americans to calypso and sexy male decolletage.

From playing a pivotal role in the inception of the American civil rights movement, to breaking down race barriers on broadcast television and using his wealth and fame to make a difference in the lives of inner-city kids, Belafonte’s work behind the scenes helped shaped the world.

For those close to him, the documentary Sing Your Song was a chance to chronicle an incredible life. It also presented an opportunity to share Belafonte’s vision and inspirational approach to social change.

“I know I had an opportunity to learn in far more detail about my father’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement,” says Gina Belafonte, the daughter of Belafonte’s second wife, dancer Julie Robinson.

“I’d seen a lot clips of the TV shows, but to see the early footage of my father in full-length stretches was really special.”

Assembled from hours of truly historical archival footage — featuring everything from the March on Washington to Robert Kennedy’s fact-finding missions on the Deep South — the documentary moves through some of the most challenging times in recent history.

Lead runner is director Susanne Rostock (Incident at Oglala, The Power of the Game), a veteran documentary filmmaker who demonstrates an incredible talent for braiding several narrative threads into one cohesive message.

Balancing the personal with the political is always problematic, but Belafonte so completely blurred the boundaries, the film becomes a complete portrait of a successful activist, as well as an iconic celebrity.

“I think Susanne has a beautiful way of grasping the essence and the metaphysical meaning of things, and conveying them through images,” says Gina Belafonte, who was one of the lead producers on the film, alongside Toronto-raised rock ‘n’ roll impresario turned Broadway mogul, Michael Cohl (Spider-Man).

“I think I discovered I was a lot more like my father than I originally thought. I’ve always been a fan, but working with him on projects involving youth incarceration — which has been a passion project for me — allowed us to come to a new place together.”

Belafonte believes the family that protests together has better moments together.

“All of my siblings are semi-political. This has a lot to do with all the things we’ve seen and experienced, growing up,” she says. “When you have people who are engaged and actively seeking change around you, you feel you really do have the potential to change things.”

Belafonte says that’s why the movie was so important to complete while her father was still in good shape and willing to talk about his incredible journey from absolutely nothing to fame and fortune.

“We often feel we can’t do much to change the world around us, but we can. I think Harry’s story offers plenty of lessons in how to do that, whether you are a celebrity or not.”

Belafonte says fame can be the biggest challenge to overcome and transform, because it has radiating effects on those close to you. “I’ve struggled with my identity,” she says. “I started off in the business as an actor, and because I look like my mother more than my father, they’d think I was Italian. It got frustrating . . . and I eventually turned to production.”

Belafonte says she doesn’t find the current crush for celebrity status all that noble or encouraging, but she’s not surprised by it, either.

“Reality TV has given people their 15 minutes of fame,” she says. “And people have a need to make a mark, I guess. What I hope the film does is show people what you can do as an individual. But it’s not a lecture.”

Belafonte says commitment to a given cause has to be a personal thing.

“If you want to give back, I think you have to take a long, hard look in the mirror at what you are, and what you are willing to give up in the presence of others to achieve change,” she says. “There are so many organizations that need help. We don’t need to create new ones. We need to promote co-operation among the non-profits and build awareness.”

The other part of the successful social-change equation is follow-through, she says.

“I think what’s made Harry successful is he never gives up. He keeps coming at issues of equality and representation in everything he does,” she says. “He’s not a saint. He’s a human being, and I think the film shows his human side, but what makes me admire him is that he’s 84 years old and he’s still out there. He’s still doing it.”

Sing Your Song plays the Vancouver International Film Festival Oct. 12 &14.

kmonkpostmedia.com

Twitter.com/katherinemonk

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VIFF: Harry Belafonte’s music and mission portrayed in Sing Your Song

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